The Portland daily press., 1887-11-29
PORTLAND CLUB.
a Brilliant Reception at the Club
House Last Night.
Speeches by Hon. w. w. Thomas, Jr.
and Speaker LittIefieid.

/
when its courtesies were extended
to Hon. w. w. Thomas, Jr., of
this city, and Hon. c. E. Littlefeld, of
Rockland. AT least 125 of the members
were in attendance and cordially welcomed
the distinguished guests. A telegram was
received from Gov. Bodwell regretting his
inability to be present, and letters from
Hon. George B. Loring, of Massachusetts,
and Hon. j. II. Galinger, of New Hamp-
shire were read to the same effect.
After the supper had received due atten-
ton and cigars had been lighted, President
Dow called the assembly to order and intro
duced Hon. w. w. Thomas. Jr., as the first
speaker of the evening. The following is an
abstract of Mr.. Thomas's remarks which
were received with frequent hearty ap-
plause:
MIR. THoMAs's REMARKS.
Mr.. Thomas said: There is an old adage
"A rolling stone gathers no moss" This
may be true in regard to moss. / fear it is
sally true A rolling stone, if it has eyes
and ears, and keeps them open, may see and
hear great many things that the stationary
stone does net.
1t is said that the opinion of remote ma
tions in regard to us is much like the judge
ment of posterity. | think this is true, for
distant nations are separated from us in
| space much as posterityis remote from us in
| time.
fist commenced rolling about the world
twenty-five years ago. l have kept on roll
ing most of the time ever since. | believe /
know the thought of the leading nations of
Europe quite well during this time, and am.
sure that there is no subject upon which Eu-
ropeasn have met with a greater change
than in their opinion of,-yes, and / may
add, their respect and regard for, our own be-
loved land, the United States of America.
Twenty-Five years ago, in 1862. our country
was racked with the agony of the great re-
bellion. Ihearmies of the Union had met
with disaster perhaps full as often as victo-
ry: A perjured emperor was plotting our
ruin by the way of Mexico. and our own
kith and kin across the Atlantic were shout
ing, as their newspapers of that date will
has burst"
Yes, my friends, twenty-five years ago Eu-
rope regarded this Union as rope of sand,
and complacently .awaited our fdsintegra-
| ton into Jour original atoms.
To-day all thisis changed. To-day Mill
lists are plotting the assassination of the Tar
and the humiliation Of the government in
| Russia.
In France weak administration covered
| with disgrace is letting the reins of power
slip from its enfeebled hands while porten-
| tous mutterings and cries of "Viye la Com
mune' pressage new reign of terror
In England the ghost of hundreds of
years of misrule of Ireland sits an unwel-
come guest at the table of every statesman
of the party in power. While thousands
and tens of thousands of unemployed work
men gather in Trafalgar Square and Hyde
i Park to protest against a state Of things
| which brings misery, wretchedness and
desperation to their homes.
While such is the condition of Europe, our
| beloved America conscious of its own recti-
| tude, Justice and power, happy in the univer-
sal well being, comfort and liberty of its
| citizens, calmly with the strong hand of the
| law executes a righteous judgement upon the
enemies of social order and mankind, on the
| gallows at Chicago.
When ATerica stamped out the rebellion,
| she gained the respect of Europe. That
respect for us has, been growing ever since,
| and now this fact that Socialists could be
| punished for their nisdeeds in America and
| by America has increased the respect of Eu-
rope for our country and its institutions to
| the verge of admiration.
OF course the one country of Europe that
interests me more than all others beyond the
Atlantic is that grand old home of chivalry-
Scandinavia. We have our own little Scan
dinavia-New Sweden-Quietly nesting in
the northern forests of our State. Since my
return to Maine, a week ago, l have been
pleased to see in the public press the state
ment that sixty Swedish immigrants direct
from the old country have arrived and set
TIED IN New Sweden during the present sea-
son.
1t will be recollected that in the decade
from 1860 to 1870 Maine. for the first time in
its history, went behindhand in population.
Yes. In 1870 we numbered some 1900 less
people than ten years before. Had Maine
begun to decline? This was most serious
question.
AT this very time the stalwart, industrious
blonde,heired, blue-eyed kwedes were COM
ing to America in large numbers, but they
West
Could we not get portion of this stream
Of Swedish immigration to stop, and make
only establish firmly a little colony of
Swedes here in the first place, around and
among whom newly arrived Swedish immi-
grants could settle and feel at home.
So we sent across the ocean, brought
little colony of Swedes back to Maine, and
successfully established them in the
woods of Northern Aroostook. This
was in 1870. The immediate super
ceased in 1873, some fourteen years ago.
The colony has steadily increased and pros
pered. 1t has grown beyond the borders of
New Sweden and spread over the adjoining
towns Of Woodland. Caribou, Conner, Per.
ham and the Wilderness townships to the
North and West.
The entire settlement has increased from
30 souls in 1870 to nearly 1000 in 1887. Sixty
have been added the present year, and it is
gratifying to those who have the interests
OF this measure at heart to note that the
fundamental idea and purpose of founding
the first little colony is working itself out,
simply, naturally, and without expense or
effort; that is, a portion of the Swedish
immigration to America is being drawn to
Maine. This portion is small, it is true, but
it is sufficient to be of substantial aid in
opening our Northern forests, clearing new
farms in the wilderness, and turning a soli-
tude into the peaceful and happy abode of
men.
This quiet and natural immigration of
Swedes to Maine is only one of many indica-
lions OF the renewed and increased pros
perity of our good North Star State. And
one of the bits of knowledge / as a rolling
stone have gathered in my rambles is that
there Is no State better to be born in, to live
IN, or to die in, than the good old State Of
Maine.
At the close of Mr.. Thomas's remarks
President Dow called upon Hon. Charles E.
Littlefeld, who was warmly received. The
following is an abstract of Mr.. Littlefield's
speech
MR.. LITTLEFIELD's SPEECH.
In opening his speech Mr.. Littlefeld said:
Il want to say in the first place that appre-
clate the entertainment of the evening. 1t is
not my Intention to make a speech, but
propose to have a little conversation with
the members Of the club in regard to the
House of 1887"
The speaker then spoke of the generosity
and gratitude which had been shown him by
both parties during the time which he served
as Speaker of the House. The Legislature
of 1887 might not have been the wisest, the
best or the most eloquent that ever was, but
it deserves well of the opinion of the State
and the party. ''In the first place, we enact
ed the ten-hour bill, and in the end we sue
ceeded in giving the people satisfactory
act. 1t has accomplished much good and |
the people who are affected by it are accept |
ing it and prospecting. An Intensified liquor |
law was given the State. That law is an |
engine which is capable Of absolutely grind |
ing the traffic of liquor to powder. The |
Republican party enacted that law. We |
enacted, among other things, law diversi- |
flying the labor in the State prison. Another
matter which the Legislature of 1887 acted
upon. and it wasn't ushered in by blowing |
of trumpets, was the bureau of industrial
and labor statistics"
Mr.. Littlefeld next spoke of the emigra-
ton to this country of the dangerous classes
such as the Anarchists, and said that it
would soon become the duty of our states
men to legislate on that question. The fish
cry commission was briefly alluded to, after
which the act passed by the legislature of |
1887 to provide for the protection of eau
cuses and other political meetings against |
fraud, was spoken Of as deserving well of |
the opinion of the State. The attention Of |
the gentlemen of the club was then called to |